Common anesthetic procedures for cats include dentals, feline neuters, feline spays, growth removals, and c-sections. We may also give anesthesia when we are taking x-rays if the cat's been hurt. If cats can't be cooperative or they're getting stressed, then we might give them some sedation to get our samples for testing, like drawing blood or doing treatments. So if we have a pet that's not quite sick enough to get hospitalized but sick enough to need treatments, then we may give some sedation to get those treatments done in hospital to make sure that it's not stressful for the cat. We do try to practice fear-free medicine as much as possible.

There are two different types of anesthesia used at Four Paws at Fulshear Veterinary Clinic. These are injectable anesthesia and gas anesthesia. The clinic most commonly uses a combination of both. Cats get pre-medicated with injectable sedation and once they have their breathing tube down, they're maintained on gas anesthesia.

I've never personally seen this happen, though I believe it is possible. If it ever does stop working, we can simply put another chip in to make sure that your pet can be easily found if they get out and are scanned.

In my 11 years of being a veterinarian, and another eight years as a veterinary technician, I've only ever seen one case of a side effect. This was when a dog's body formed a small hard nodule around the microchip, and we had to remove it. Otherwise, the risk of side effects are super low. The microchips are made from a material that the body's not going to react with, much like how gold or platinum is hypoallergenic.

A microchip is implanted in the dog by a hollow needle, and we inject it under the skin between the shoulder blades. It's a quick procedure as we use a fairly large needle. Most dogs and cats tolerate it really well. Before we pull out the needle, I pinch it to ensure that the microchip stays in and then we scan to make sure that it's appropriately placed. Before we inject it, we also scan the chip to ensure it is reading properly. It's very rare to see a faulty chip.

That's a great question. In today's day and age, everyone is looking for more holistic methods. What I have learned is that I like to blend the two: eastern and western medicine. I would say that there are some studies I believe where catnip can help. However, it's not long lasting. It can overstimulate the cat and have unwanted effects, so you just have to be cautious. CBDis up and coming. I would say that the studies are kind of inconclusive as to whether or not this helps. You do need to be doing it using a veterinary brand. Please don't go to Joe Schmoe's CBD shop on the corner. A good website is vrshealth.com. They actually have veterinarians on staff and they have done the testing. Their products are tested and safe and have appropriate dosing because I know at every farmer's market that I go to, there's someone touting CBD for pets, and my question is, has it been tested? Just know that the studies are still ongoing. I'm sure that you can try it just if it's a veterinary branded product. If you have questions, please give the clinic a call about this and we can chat about it.

As for other natural remedies, acupuncture can do wonders, so if you can find a veterinarian certified in acupuncture, that can help with pain relief. Cold laser is another holistic approach that is natural and doesn’t involve medication. It uses laser technology to penetrate into the deeper layers of the tissue relieving pain and inflammation, and increasing blood flow. There's not a ton of options outside of that that I would recommend unless you were under the supervision of a veterinarian who has a veterinarian's degree in holistic treatments. There are some things that you can deal with there, but you need to be under the supervision of a veterinarian.

If they're prescribed for your cat, yes. When we talk about NSAIDs, we are referring to a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory category which includes Tylenol, Advil, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen. These are NSAIDs, and unless prescribed by a vet, they should not be given to cats. It is toxic to them, it will poison them, and some cats do not recover. If you have Onsior, which is an anti-inflammatory approved for cats, it is safe to give at home as long as you're under the direct instruction of a veterinarian.

No. Unless you are directly authorized by your veterinarian, most of the human pain medications like Tylenol, Advil, and Ibuprofen are extremely toxic to cats. Do not give your cat these medications unless you want your cat to go into kidney failure. It is crucial to consult with a veterinarian before administering any human medicine to a cat. There are certain doses of gabapentin that you can give, but it's very easy to overdose your cat because, in humans, I believe gabapentin only comes in a hundred milligram and three hundred milligram capsules. Occasionally, it'll come in liquid, but you do need to have the under supervision and instruction of a veterinarian before you do this.

This is a really great question. If you have a cat and you've had to medicate your cat, you're going to know there's no straightforward way. But there are some tips and tricks that I can give you to make it a little bit easier. Cat pain medication comes in a variety of forms and each has its own method of administration.

Some medications are flavored tablets. We have a flavored anti-inflammatory tablet called Onsior that is highly palatable. Most cats will take it like it's a treat, so that makes it easy. You can just squirt liquid into their mouth. Just keep in mind that when cats don't like the taste of something, they will drool or foam. This is legitimately them just being very dramatic. They're not rabid. They're not having an allergic reaction. They're just really wanting you to know that this is terrible, and you can always rinse their mouth out with some water.

There are some transdermal medications that we can use. Whenever we're getting these medications compounded, we just have to be aware that they may not absorb as well as they might orally because absorbing through the gastrointestinal tract or the stomach and the intestines is going to be one of the fastest ways to get in the bloodstream. I don't think I've ever sent home injections for cats, but there are certain injectables that we can teach owners to give. There are certain injectable medications that can absorb through the gums, where you don't have to use a needle, like buprenorphine. If you do have that medication at home and you're having to administer that, then put it onto the gums, unless told to do otherwise, because sometimes it can become pounded into a liquid to be given orally. I like to do it on the gums because it's just a lot easier to squirt something on the gums than to shove it down her throat. When it comes to pilling a cat with capsules, tablets, or pills, I pop it down the back of their throat followed by a little squish of water with a little syringe is another way to give medication. Ultimately, we just have to find out what works best for your cat. If you are struggling, please feel free to give the clinic a call. My entire staff is very well versed and trained in the tips and tricks of how to get our feline patients to take their meds.

You can always give us a call. Call your veterinarian or Four Paws at Fulshear Veterinary Clinic and we will guide you. We will need to know if you have leftover medication from a different patient or another pet. Is it safe to give or not? For us to fully answer that question, a doctor-patient relationship is necessary. Therefore, you'd need to be a current client. Always call your veterinarian because there are some drugs that are safe for cats and then some drugs that are not. Cats are not small dogs. Their bodies process drugs completely differently. There are some medications that do cross species that you can use, but there's also a lot that don't.